“It seems easier to defend actions than to honestly examine them. We are quicker to attack than admit. Admissions require courage!
“Being honest is really a question of courage – courage enough to face what we fear. This gets lost in the smoke screen of deceptions that is used to justify dishonesty. Whenever we accept that there is a good reason to be dishonest — hardship, desperation, depression, ignorance, victimhood, etc. — we increase the evidence for fearing what we are avoiding. And what is it? Only this: fear is a BELIEF in our inadequacy to deal with something. And that belief precedes any evidence of failure we have collected!
“So, do we have the courage to face what we fear? This is life’s most severe test – failure leads to unawareness.
“Unawareness arising from fear is why people are dishonest. The belief responsible for the fear may be lost in confusion or hidden in the shame of humiliation. The invitation is to avoid, to forget, to go stupid, and the urge to be right further sanctions our ignorance.
“What a breath of fresh air to face a dishonest act and say, “I did it because I was afraid. Period!” That is the first step toward discovering the hidden fear. What a relief!”
~ Harry Palmer, Living Deliberately
Did you catch all that, my friend? It’s powerful stuff. Maybe you’ll want to read it again.
But what’s the most important piece to take home?
“I did it because I was afraid. Period!”
Or maybe the feeling of relief?
What do you think?